Jefferson Parish grand jury indicts three on murder, rape charges

A Kenner man was charged in a seven-count indictment Thursday with killing an Old Jefferson man in his home and setting the house on fire after the victim reported to police the suspect was pistol-whipping his spouse. Jacoby A. Maize, 33, of 301 Clemson Place, is charged with second-degree murder and aggravated arson in the death of Justin Hendricks Jr., 34, who was shot in the stomach inside his home at 112 Maine St. on April 25.

JPSOJacoby Maize

Firefighters found Hendricks' body near the home's back door while extinguishing the flames early April 26, according to the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office.

On the day before he was shot, Hendricks called 911 anonymously, reporting that Maize was striking his wife in the head with the firearm, according to a police affidavit filed in 24th Judicial District Court. When Hendricks tried to intervene, Maize allegedly pointed the pistol at him. Maize was booked April 29 with the domestic incident, records show, but detectives didn't arrest him on the murder charge until late May. It was unclear why the Maizes were at Hendricks' home or whether the domestic incident led to Maize's being accused of murder.

However, Maize also allegedly threatened his 23-year-old wife in an attempt to prevent her from reporting the "criminal conduct" on April 25, suggesting she knew of Hendricks' death. For that, Maize was indicted Thursday on a charge of witness intimidation.

Maize's wife claimed he struck her in the head with a stick as they drove in Metairie the week before the slaying. That incident led to a charge of second-degree battery. Maize also was indicted on a charge of aggravated assault with a firearm, in connection with an April 2 incident that also involved his wife.

Because Maize had two narcotics convictions dating to 2007, he also was indicted with two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm. One count involves Hendricks' death and the other stems from his allegedly beating his wife with the pistol.

Judge Henry Sullivan set Maize's bond Thursday at $1,245,000.

Maize's case was one of three in which the grand jury handed up indictments.

The panel also charged Levell R. Johnson, 19, of Harvey, with second-degree murder and for being a felon in possession of a firearm, in the May 2 death of Randy Thornton.

Thornton, 26, was shot several times in the 1100 block of Clydesbank Drive in Harvey. Johnson's previous felony conviction was for possession with intent to distribute cocaine, for which he received a three-year sentence. He was on parole when Thornton was killed, records show. Johnson's bond was set at $650,000.

Separately, Rogelio Lucater Gonzalez, 57, of Kenner, was indicted on charges of aggravated rape and sexual battery of a juvenile. The victim was 10 years old when the alleged abuse happened between October 2005 and April 2006, according to the indictment. The girl, now 15, told relatives about the alleged abuse in April, leading to Gonzalez's arrest in May, according to the Kenner Police Department.

Gonzalez is held in lieu of a $650,000 bond. Aggravated rape carries mandatory life in prison upon conviction, while the sexual battery charge carries a sentencing range of 25 years to 99 years imprisonment.

•••••••

Paul Purpura can be reached at ppurpura@timespicayune.com or 504.826.3791.